Movable sounding toy with sound amplifying means

ABSTRACT

A device such as a movable sounding toy fabricated of molded plastic comprises an animal-like figure pivotably mounted on a supporting yoke and a hollow wheel rotatably mounted on a yoke. A cam follower attached to the figure engages a circumferential sinusoidal cam track on the wheel and, as the toy is pushed and the wheel rotates, the figure oscillates. Sounding means are located within and rotate with the hollow wheel. The sounding means comprise a cylindrical cardboard tube having vibratory metal reeds and a movable clapper therein which intermittently engages the reeds as the wheel rotates to cause a sound to be emitted. Means are provided to amplify the sound so produced and comprise a mass of rigid cellular material, such as polyethylene foam, in the form of a thick-walled cylinder which surrounds and engages the cylindrical tube of the sounding means. In another embodiment the device is a ball formed by a spherical mass of cellular material in which the sounding means are embedded.

[451 July 17,1973

[ MOVABLE SOUNDING TOY WITH SOUND AMPLIFYING MEANS [75] Inventor: Ernest L. Thornell, Horicon, Wis.

[73] Assignee: Marlin Toy Products, Inc., Horican,

Wis.

[22] Filed: Feb. 16, 1972 [21] App]. No.: 226,832

[52] US. Cl. .L 46/98 [51] Int. Cl A63h 5/00 [58] Field of Search 46/111, 114, 98, 46/112; 84/402, 403, 404; 273/DIG. 2

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,126,669 3/1964 Gausewitz 273/DIG. 2 3,423,873 1/1969 Genin 46/114 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 142,657 7/1951 Australia 46/114 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Exar ninerJ. Q. Lever Altorney.lames E. Nilles [57] ABSTRACT A device such as a movable sounding toy fabricated of molded plastic comprises an animal-like figure pivotably mounted on a supporting yoke and a hollow wheel rotatably mounted on a yoke. A cam follower attached to the figure engages a circumferential sinusoidal cam track on the wheel and, as the toy is pushed and the wheel rotates, the figure oscillates. Sounding means are located within and rotate with the hollow wheel. The sounding means comprise a cylindrical cardboard tube having vibratory metal reeds and a movable clapper therein which intermittently engages the reeds as the wheel rotates to cause a sound to be emitted. Means are provided to amplify the sound so produced and comprise a mass of rigid cellular material, such as polyethylene foam, in the form of a thick-walled cylinder which surrounds and engages the cylindrical tube of the sounding means. ln another embodiment the device is a ball formed by a spherical mass of cellular material in which the sounding means are embedded.

19 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MOVABLE SOUNDING TOY WITH SOUND AMPLIFYING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Use This invention relates generally to sounding toys and in particular to sound amplification means therefor.

2. Description of the Prior Art Numerous types of toys and amusement devices are available or known which emit sounds as the toy or some portion thereof is moved or rotated. Some toys or amusement devices, for example, employ a sounding means such as a chime which comprises one or more vibrating reeds and a clapper for cooperation therewith. Rotational or other movement of the toy causes the clapper to imtermittently strike the reeds and sound is emitted. Very often the sounding means is encased within some portion of the toy and the sound is muffled. While such sounding means are generally satisfactory, it is desirable to improve upon them and, in particular, to amplify the sounds provided thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of a device such as a movable sounding toy or amusement device in accordance with the invention is preferably fabricated of-molded plastic and comprises an animal-like figure pivotably mounted on a supporting yoke and a hollow wheel rotatably mounted on the yoke. Cam follower means attached to the figure engages a circumferential sinusoidal cam track on the wheel and, as the toy is pushed by a handle mounted on the yoke and the wheel rotates, the figure oscillates. Sounding means are located within and rotate with the hollow wheel. The sounding means comprise a structure such as a cylindrical tube having one or more vibratory metal reeds and movable clapper mounted therein which intermittently and randomly engages the reeds as the wheel rotates to cause a sound to be emitted. Means are provided to amplify the sound produced within and emitted by the sounding means and comprise a mass of rigid cellular material, such as polyethylene foam, in the form of a thick-walled cylinder which surrounds and engages at least a portion of the cylindrical tube of the sounding means. The cellular material acts to appreciably increase the level and the quality of the sound emitted from the sounding means and this is desirable because of the muffling effect re sulting from enclosing the sounding means within the hollow wheel.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cylindrical tube is fabricated of rigid material such as cardboard and has its axis coincident with the axis of rotation of the hollow wheel. The reed or reeds are attached to a disc-like cast-iron base member which fits snugly within and closes one end of the tubular member and the other end of the tubular member is closed by an end cap from which the clapper is suspended. The sound-emitting means and the amplifier means therefor are housed in the chamber within the hollow wheel and a space exists between the outer periphery of the cellular material and the inner periphery of the wheel. The sides of the wheel are perforated.

In the first embodiment disclosed the sounding means, including the tube or housing thereof, are cylindrical in shape and the mass of cellular material comprising the amplifying means are also cylindrical in form. However, the sounding means and amplifying means and amplification means therefor could be embodied in a device or apparatus other than a toy or amusement device.

DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a movable sounding toy in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toy shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-section view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sounding means and sound amplification means shown removed from the toy; and

FIG. 5 is a view of a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral 10 designates a device such as a movable sounding toy in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Toy 10, which is preferably fabricated of molded plastic, comprises an animal-like FIG. 12 which is mounted for oscillatory pivotal movement on a supporting yoke or support means 14. Toy 10 further comprises a movable portion such as a hollow wheel 16 which is rotatably mounted on yoke 14 and is adapted to roll along a surface as the toy is moved or pushed by a handle 24 attached to the yoke.

Yoke 14 comprises a curved top portion 18 and two integrally formed depending side portions 20. Yoke 10 comprises a handle attachment means 22 in which handle 24 is removably attached. Top portion 18 is also provided with an integrally formed structure 26 which is adapted to support FIG. 12 for oscillatory pivotably movement. Structure 26 is provided with aligned holes 28 and 30 which accommodate a stem or shaft 32- which is rigidly attached to the bottom of FIG. 12. Stem 32 of FIG. 12 has cam means in the form of a cam follower extension or arm 34 rigidly secured thereto which, when moved sideways back-and-forth effects corresponding movement of FIG. 12. Cam follower arm 34 is provided on'the underside of its extreme end with two downwardly depending, spaced-apart cam followers 36 between which a sinusoidal cam track 38 on the periphery of wheel 16 is adapted to be guided to effect movement of FIG. 12. The downwardly depending side portions 20 of yoke I4 are provided with holes 40 which serve as a bearing means for the axles 42 of hol low wheel 16.

As FIG. 3 shows, for purposes of manufacture and assembly, wheel 16 comprises three parts, namely, a generally cylindrical center section 44, to which two identical side sections 46 are rigidly secured as by gluing. Center section 44 has cam means in the form of a cam track 38 integrally formed on the exterior thereof and extending entirely around the exterior peripheral surface thereof. Cam track 38, as hereinbefore mentioned, is sinusoidal in shape and disposed between the cam followers 36. Because cam track 38 follows a sinusoidal curved irregular path as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it effects oscillatory movement of cam follower arm 34 and corresponding movement of FIG. 12 as wheel 16 rotates. The side sections 46 of wheel 16 are identical to each other and each is provided with a wheel tread 48 which is integrally formed on the periphery of a side section. The exterior of each side section 46 is provided with an integrally formed shaft 42 which serve as an axle for wheel 16 and extends through an opening 40 in a depending side portion 20 of yoke 14. The inner side of a side section 46 of wheel 16 is provided with integrally formed cylindrically shaped cup 50 which serves as a means for supporting one end of a sounding means 52 which is mounted within the hollow interior of wheel 16. Each side section 46 of wheel 16 is provided with a plurality of holes 53.

The sounding means 52, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is located within and rotates with wheel 16. As FIG. 3 shows, sounding means 52 comprise a structure such as a cylindrical tube 54, preferably made of cardboard or other stiff material, which is adapted to fit snugly within the cups 50 on the inside of the side sections 46 of wheel 16. Sounding means 52 further comprises one or more vibratory reeds 56 which are rigidly attached at one end to a metal disc or base 58 which fits snugly within one end of tube 54 and is supported thereby. The sounding means 52 also comprises a movable clapper 60 which has its rigid arm 62 supported for pivotal movement in tube 54 on an eyelet 64 secured to the inside of an end cap 66 which is rigidly attached to the other end of tube 54. Cylindrical tube 54 has its axis coincident with the axis of rotation of wheel 16. As toy is pushed so that wheel 16 rotates along a surface, clapper 60 makes intermittent random engagement with the reeds 56 and sounds are emitted by the sounding means 52.

The circular disc 58 on which the reed or reeds 56 are mounted is preferably fabricated of cast iron which appears to provide better resonating quality than other metals.

In order to amplify or otherwise improve the quality of sound being emitted by sounding means 52, amplifying means 68 are provided which take the form of a solid mass of rigid cellular material, such as polyethylene foam, which surrounds and engages a substantial portion of sounding means 52, as FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show. More specifically, the amplifying means 68 takes the form of a thick walled cylinder having a central opening 70, a peripheral surface 72, and flat end walls 74. Cylindrical tube 54 of sounding means 52 fits snugly within opening 70 in amplifying means 68 and is in tight engagement therewith.

It is to be noted that the exterior surfaces 72 and 74 of amplifying means 68 do not touch or make contact with wheel 16 except at the ends of the cups 50 which hold the sounding means 52 in place. Experiment has shown that the material of which the amplifying means 68 is formed is preferably polyethylene foam which is a commercially available product. However, other low density cellular materials such as polyurethane'foam or Ethafoam are also suitable. Other high density, more rigid cellular material such as Styrofoam is suitable to provide amplification but such material gives off a harsher sound. During the process of forming or casting amplifying means 68 in a suitable mold, a self-foaming liquid is employed, which expands and solififies into a cellular material having a skin which forms on the surfaces thereof. However, it is not known whether this skin plays a part in the amplification effect.

Although the invention disclosed herein is shown in a first embodiment as embodied in a movable toy 10, it is apparent that other types of sounding means could be employed with amplifications means in accordance with the invention and that the toy or amusement device in which they are embodied could take a different form than that shown. Thus, for example, as FIG. 5 shows, the sounding means 52 hereinbefore described is embedded in a spherical mass of cellular material 76, similar to that hereinbefore described which provides the amplification effect. In this embodiment, the amplification means 76 also serve as the toy device itself, Le, a ball 78. Movement of ball 78 such'as rolling causes the sounding means 52 to emit a sound and the cellular material 76 effects amplification of the sound.

OPERATION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT Toy 10 operates as follows. Handle 24 is used to push the toy so that wheel 16 rolls along a surface on its treads 48. As wheel 16 rotates, the cam track 38 thereon rotates therewith and, as the cam track passes between the cam followers 36 on cam follower arm 34, the latter oscillates back and forth as it follows the cam track. This movement of cam follower arm 34 effects corresponding rotational, pivotable or oscillatory movement of FIG. 12. Thus, FIG. 12 has the appearance of an animated cartoon character. Simultaneously with the movement of FIG. 12 and the rotation of wheel 16, clapper 60 falls to different positions and makes intermittent engagement with the reeds 56 causing a sound to be emitted. The sound emitted by the sounding means 52 is amplified by the amplifying means 68 and escapes from within wheel 16. Amplification of the sound by amplifying means 68 is desirable because of the muffling effect on the sound occasioned by the sounding means 52 being enclosed within wheel 16.

RESUME A device such as movable sounding toy I!) fabricated of molded plastic comprises an animal-like FIG. 12 pivotably mounted on a supporting yoke 14 and a hollow wheel 16 rotatably mounted on the yoke. A cam follower arm 34 attached to FIG. 12 has cams 36 which engage a circumferential sinusoidal cam track 38 on the surface of wheel 16 and, as the toy is pushed and the wheel rotates, the figure oscillates. Sounding'means 52 are located within and rotate with the hollow wheel 16. The sounding means 52 comprise a cylindrical cardboard tube 54 having vibratory metal reeds 56 and a movable clapper 60 therein which intermittently engages as the wheel l6 rotates to cause a sound to be emitted. Means 68 are provided to amplify the sound so produced and comprise a mass of rigid cellular material, such as polyethylene foam, in the form of a thickwalled cylinder which surrounds and engages cylindrical tube 54 of the sounding means 52. In another embodiment a ball 78 comprises a spherically shaped means of rigid cellular material 76 in which sounding means 52 are embedded.

I claim:

I. In a toy device:

sounding means which emit sounds when moved,

sound amplification means for said sounding means comprising a solid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with at least a portion of said sounding means and a rotatable wheel on which said sounding means is mounted and by which said sounding means is moved. 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mass of cellular material completely surrounds said sounding means.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said mass of cellular material is spherical in shape.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said sounding means comprises a structure wherein at least one vibratory reed and a clapper therefor are located and wherein said mass of cellular material is engagement with and surrounds at least a portion of said structure. 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said wheel is hollow and said sounding means and said sound amplification means are mounted therein.

6. In a device, sounding means which emit a sound when moved, said sounding means comprising a member defining a chamber, at least one vibrating reed in said chamber and rigidly mounted on a base which engages the member defining said chamber,

and a movable clapper within said chamber for cooperation with said reed to cause the latter to vibrate and emit a sound,

and sound amplification means to effect amplification of the sound emitted by said sounding means, said sound amplification means comprising a solid rigid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with at least a portion of said member defining said chamber.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said member is a tubular member, and wherein said mass of cellular material has an opening wherein said tubular member is snugly engaged.

' 8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said mass of cellular material is cylindrical.

9. A device according to claim 7 wherein said mass of cellular material is spherical.

10. A device according to claim 8 wherein said chamber is completely closed.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said base is metal.

12. In a movable musical toy or amusement device:

support means,

a hollow wheel mounted for rotation on said support means and adapted to rotate on a surface as said toy is moved, sounding means mounted within said hollow wheel and movable therewith to produce a sound,

and sound amplifying means for said sounding means comprising a solid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with said sounding I means within said hollow wheel.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said sounding means comprises a tubular structure wherein at least one vibratory reed and a clapper therefore are located and wherein said, mass of cellular material is in engagement with and surrounds at least a portion of said structure.

14. A device according to claim 13 wherein said mass of cellular material is cylindrical and has an opening wherein said sounding means is snugly fitted.

15. In a movable musical toy or amusement device:

support means, v

a hollow wheel mounted for rotation on said support means, and adapted to rotate on a surface as said toy is moved,

a movable figure mounted for movement on said support means, first cam means on said wheel for cooperation with second cam means attached to said figure to effect movement of said figure as said wheelrotates,

sounding means mounted within said hollow wheel and movable therewith to produce a sound,

and sound amplifying means for said sounding means comprising a solid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with said sounding means within said hollow wheel.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said figure is mounted for oscillatory movement on said support means, wherein said first cam means on said wheel is a sinusoidal cam track on the periphery of said wheel, wherein said second cam means is a cam follower for engagement with said cam track.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said sounding means comprises a tubular structure wherein at least one vibratory reed and a clapper therefore are located and wherein said mass of cellular material is in engagement with and surrounds at least a portion of said structure. i

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein said mass of cellular material is cylindrical and has an opening wherein said sounding means is snugly fitted.

19. A device according to claim 1 wherein said sounding means comprises an enclosed structure within which said sounds are produced. 

1. In a toy device: sounding means which emit sounds when moved, sound amplification means for said sounding means comprising a solid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with at least a portion of said sounding means and a rotatable wheel on which said sounding means is mounted and by which said sounding means is moved.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said mass of cellular material completely surrounds said sounding means.
 3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said mass of cellular material is spherical in shape.
 4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said sounding means comprises a structure wherein at least one vibratory reed and a clapper therefor are located and wherein said mass of cellular material is engagement with and surrounds at least a portion of said structure.
 5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said wheel is hollow and said sounding means and said sound amplification means are mounted therein.
 6. In a device, sounding means which emit a sound when moved, said sounding means comprising a member defining a chamber, at least one vibrating reed in said chamber and rigidly mounted on a base which engages the member defining said chamber, and a movable clapper within said chamber for cooperation with said reed to cause the latter to vibrate and emit a sound, and sound amplification means to effect amplification of the sound emitted by said sounding means, said sound amplification means comprising a solid rigid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with at least a pOrtion of said member defining said chamber.
 7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said member is a tubular member, and wherein said mass of cellular material has an opening wherein said tubular member is snugly engaged.
 8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said mass of cellular material is cylindrical.
 9. A device according to claim 7 wherein said mass of cellular material is spherical.
 10. A device according to claim 8 wherein said chamber is completely closed.
 11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said base is metal.
 12. In a movable musical toy or amusement device: support means, a hollow wheel mounted for rotation on said support means and adapted to rotate on a surface as said toy is moved, sounding means mounted within said hollow wheel and movable therewith to produce a sound, and sound amplifying means for said sounding means comprising a solid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with said sounding means within said hollow wheel.
 13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said sounding means comprises a tubular structure wherein at least one vibratory reed and a clapper therefore are located and wherein said mass of cellular material is in engagement with and surrounds at least a portion of said structure.
 14. A device according to claim 13 wherein said mass of cellular material is cylindrical and has an opening wherein said sounding means is snugly fitted.
 15. In a movable musical toy or amusement device: support means, a hollow wheel mounted for rotation on said support means, and adapted to rotate on a surface as said toy is moved, a movable figure mounted for movement on said support means, first cam means on said wheel for cooperation with second cam means attached to said figure to effect movement of said figure as said wheel rotates, sounding means mounted within said hollow wheel and movable therewith to produce a sound, and sound amplifying means for said sounding means comprising a solid mass of cellular material surrounding and in engagement with said sounding means within said hollow wheel.
 16. A device according to claim 15 wherein said figure is mounted for oscillatory movement on said support means, wherein said first cam means on said wheel is a sinusoidal cam track on the periphery of said wheel, wherein said second cam means is a cam follower for engagement with said cam track.
 17. A device according to claim 16 wherein said sounding means comprises a tubular structure wherein at least one vibratory reed and a clapper therefore are located and wherein said mass of cellular material is in engagement with and surrounds at least a portion of said structure.
 18. A device according to claim 17 wherein said mass of cellular material is cylindrical and has an opening wherein said sounding means is snugly fitted.
 19. A device according to claim 1 wherein said sounding means comprises an enclosed structure within which said sounds are produced. 